• Home
  • Shop
  • Illustration Portfolio
  • My Books
  • About

Sanae Ishida

A crafty little atelier in a grey city

First Day of School!!

September 4, 2013

I am a procrastinator and an overplanner, quite the deadly combination. Because I make K weekly outfits, I uncharacteristically haven't been thinking too much about school clothes other than the first day outfit. We got the requisite new shoes, snacks and lunch food, and her school implemented a new system involving cash donations for supplies (e.g. pencils, notebooks, etc.) which I finally got around to doing, so I was feeling pretty prepared. Then I realized: backpack!! And then: lunch box!! I ... Read more

Filed in: crafts, sewing, sewing for K • by sanae • 13 Comments

A Tale of Rings

September 3, 2013

Today is M's and my 8th wedding anniversary. We'd been together a long time before we tied the knot, and I always think of this ring above as symbolic. The story: in my early twenties when I was living in Japan, I was flipping through a magazine when I saw a Tiffany's ad and stopped mid-flip. As you know, I'm not a jewelry person. I have weird allergic reactions to most metals and though I love beads and baubles, I don't think I'm very good at accessorizing so I've never really tried. In ... Read more

Filed in: life, writing • by sanae • 19 Comments

Monday Outfit: Debbie’s Birthday Dress Hack + Giveaway! [CLOSED]

September 2, 2013

Good morning, friends, how is this Labor Day Monday (if you're in the US) treating you so far? Today, I'm excited to share some pattern re-mixing that I've been experimenting with - I think it's a fun one. If you remember, I've made the sewpony's Debbie's Birthday dress quite a few times here and here. It's such a great basic design and views 1 and 2 are darling, but I absolutely love that the modification possibilities are endless. I've been wanting to make a version with sleeves ... Read more

Filed in: giveaway, sewing, sewing for K • by sanae •

Happy Friday + Five and Ten Designs

August 30, 2013

Happy Friday, friends! I have a special, unexpected K outfit for you today. A little while ago, Heidi of Elegance & Elephants generously bestowed me the fabulous Five and Ten Designs Volume One ebook. I'm sure you're already familiar with it. Oh, it's so genius: take five basic pattern pieces and make ten (or more if you so choose!) looks from them. This book is so drool-worthy - gorgeous photography, beautiful styling, and of course, wonderful designs by talented designers, Heidi being one ... Read more

Filed in: sewing, sewing for K • by sanae • 27 Comments

Sewing for Me: So-So Tees (it’s about the scarf, really)

August 29, 2013

Whenever I work on putting these Thursday outfit posts together, I feel very self-conscious and sort of ridiculous as I go through dozens and dozens of pictures of myself. I wish I could be blasé, but I'm really not. It's so very out of character for me to do this. The other night a friend invited me to an event and I ran into someone who told me she reads my blog. I was surprised and turned bright, bright red, and all eyes at the table were on me. Immediately, I thought of these awkward photos ... Read more

Filed in: sewing, sewing for me • by sanae • 31 Comments

« Previous Page
Next Page »

Subscribe via Email

Enter your email address below to get blog posts delivered to your in-box. I'll occasionally include fun digital goodies!

Order My New Book of Illustrated Essays!

Order My Newest Kids’ Book!!

Order My Latest Sewing Book!!

Archives

Categories

I’ve been swimming in nostalgia these past few day I’ve been swimming in nostalgia these past few days, wading through my blog and Pinterest board of the clothes I made for K, who is not so little anymore. what a wild, fun time that was! Remember the old school days of sewing blogs?? I’m back in deadline mode for a number of projects so sewing will have to be put on hold (though maybe I’ll get lucky and sneak in some stitching time). I’m also putting Instagram on hold for the summer, as I do every year. I’ll be back in September with some exciting updates! Have a lovely season, my friends! 💙💙💙💙💙💙
Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2026 · Theme by Blog Pixie

© 2026 Sanae Ishida